You will probably need to book a hotel from time to time for various reasons. Whether your trip is for business or pleasure, you must know what you are doing when it comes to selecting a hotel. Here is some tips that will help you with this quite a bit.
To help you make a good choice, you should check out hotel review websites like TripAdvisor online. Here you can get first-hand reports of the experience people had staying at different hotels. Factor former guests’ reviews into your final decision.
Consider taking advantage of room service during your special someone. While it may cost a little extra, it is more convenient to remain in your room while satisfying your hunger.
Room service can be a great way to have a private, comfortable meal. Even though this will cost a bit more, the convenience and comfort are worth it.
Check the organizations that you are a member of. Some of these organizations will receive discounts for different reasons from different hotels. People often forget about these discounts, and they can be 10 percent or more. It can add up to equal a free hotel night!
Before you book a hotel, look for deals online. Usually, when you try to book a room over the phone, the clerk will not let you know that there is a better deal online. It is your responsibility to find these discounts. Look at Jetsetter, Enrovia and Hotels.com.
Always check for online deals before booking a hotel room. This is why it’s up to you to search for these hidden discounts. Check out websites such as Jetsetter, Jetsetter, and SniqueAway.
Be aware in advance of the check-in time. People sometimes forget when they will be let into their rooms, showing up early only to learn that their room isn’t ready yet. Call the hotel if you are early and find out if your room is ready.
Plan your trip in advance as you can to ensure best rates. Many hotels offer discounts if you book more than a few months in advance. You may save up to 50 percent off at some very exclusive hotels.
Never make the assumption that all hotels allows pets in your room. You should call ahead to double check, even if it was stated on the website that this is a pet friendly hotel. Also ask exactly what they mean by pet-friendly, as there might be restrictions on certain breeds and sizes of pet that they allow on their premises.
There are three different things you must do in advance if you’re going to be traveling with a pet. Be sure that the hotel will be friendly to pets.Be sure to have plenty of plastic bags with you so you can pick up your pet’s waste.
If you want to keep up the running regimen you have while traveling you should get your GPS watch packed with some running clothes. So, make sure you have your running gear and shoes and you will be set to jog anywhere. Running in a city allows you to see things other travelers miss.
Book massages as far ahead of time as possible to guarantee you get the perfect couples massage for you and your significant other.The best massage therapists are well-known at resorts, and you don’t want to miss out.
If you are a person who travels often, it is a good idea to sign up for hotel loyalty programs. Loyalty programs provide frequent guests benefits for booking with them on a regular basis. You will be able to earn stuff like a free upgrade, an allowance to check out late, and even free stays when you get enough points.
If you’re a member of the AAA, ask about a hotel discount. You would be surprised where hidden discounts on hotels. You can save more than five percent on some rooms. It’s a way to save money that really adds up over the nights.
If you are always staying at the same chain, find out about the programs they offer to frequent guests. These are similar to frequent flyer programs, offering points each time you stay at a particular chain. Over time, these points can really add up, allowing you to enjoy numerous upgrades, spa visits, restaurant discounts, and even free nights at the hotel.
Join the hotel’s membership program to get deals on business trips. These points can be applied toward further travels.
Do you care about your environment? If so, a “green” hotel may be for you. Luckily, there are a lot of green hotels out there in this day and age. Certain hotels provide green rooms, and in fact, some are even certified as green hotels. Hotels that have been around for a while may employ a variety of eco-friendly practices. Talk to a travel agent if you want to find hotels that are eco-friendly.
Get an AAA membership for hotel when you travel. Parents with young children will appreciate the free car seat provided in many locations.
The price you pay at a hotel often depends on the time frame in which you reserve the room. The price is subject to the laws of supply and demand like any other product. If possible, book your room no more than 24 hours in advance. This can get you a seriously discounted rate. The hotel is not going to make any money on a room that is unoccupied, which is why the reduce the price.
Distance Calls
Consider joining a membership program if you travel often. This way, when you stay at a hotel, you can get points and then turn those points into free stuff that you can do with your family.
Don’t make any long distance calls on your hotel room. Many hotels will give you complimentary Skype connections via Wi-Fi. You can stay connected with work or family without the high cost of making expensive long distance calls from the phone in your hotel phone.
One way to get discounts on hotel rooms is to join AAA. The discounts at many hotel chains and deals on car rentals can more than pay for the AAA membership fees. Those who have small children will be pleased to find car seats available for free.
It is extremely frustrating when you and your room with the kids screaming “pool” only to discover that there are none.
Check if a hotel you’re looking to stay at is non-smoking or smoking. If you’re not a smoker, you might want to skip a smoking hotel. Even if you reserve a non-smoking room, the smell of smoke can circulate through the hotel’s air vents and cause your clothes to pick up the odor. Sometimes, smokers rent non-smoking rooms because that is all that is available, and then they smoke in them anyway. Choose a non-smoking hotel to avoid the stench.
Check if your prospective hotel you’re looking to stay at is non-smoking or smoking. If you are not a smoker, you may want to avoid hotels that offer smoking rooms. Smokers also sometimes smoke in rooms that the room they are not supposed to smoke in.
You should be aware whether or not the hotel permits guests to have pets in the rooms. If you dislike or are allergic to pets, you should avoid hotels allowing them. These hotels sometimes have odors because the carpet and linens have absorbed them. Some hotels have an extra fee for pets, and the charge is not much in some places. It might not be adequate to the cost of cleaning demands.
Be sure you understand your hotel’s smoking policy is if you smoke cigarettes. A lot of places have specific rooms just for smokers. Ask to see if any of these are a smoker. If you smoke in a room designated as non-smoking, you can be hit with some major penalties for lighting up in a non-smoker’s room.
Unless it is an emergency, always stay for the total number of nights that you have booked. The hotel might charge you a fee for early departure. Booking a hotel room means the hotel is going to take that specific room off of their market. If you wind up leaving early, then they’ll be losing money for every day that you don’t stay. They will charge a departure fee so they get back what they lose.
Some hotels don’t offer cribs or rollaways; while others have a limited number of them. Talk about these issues as you reserve your reservations.
Stay away from the bottled water! After traveling and checking in, you might be feeling tired and/or thirsty. You may decide to reach for that bottle of water calling to you from the mini fridge. Hotels are really aware of this, and the water will cost you quite a bit more than it really should. Some hotels offer free bottles of water in their gyms. Even better, bring along a few of your own bottles.
Avoid using the bedspread. The bedspread is one item that does not usually isn’t washed like the linens are. It may be a lot of germs. Remove the blanket from the bed.
Don’t steal the hotel linens when you leave, no matter how tempting and comfortable they are. Keeping linens, a robe or some similar item will likely not go unnoticed. You will be issued a bill for the items taken. Ask if you can buy the linens from the hotel if you like them a lot.
Be aware of your options in the event that a hotel “walks” you. This means that you have to go somewhere else. Avoid getting “walked” whenever you can, but if you have to switch hotels, be sure that the deal is better than the place you were trying to get.
You can get better hotel rates when you don’t book during peak tourist seasons. This is the time that hotel rates are at their highest. Book your rooms at a time when the hotel is off-season and they’re desperate to attract new guests. This will allow you to get a rate that’s a lot better.
Do not drink the bottled water!You may be very thirsty when finally arriving to a hotel. You can be tempted to casually open that bottle of water calling to you from the mini-fridge. Hotels are aware of this and charge more for bottled water. You might be able to get a bottle of water in the hotel gym. It’s best to simply bring your own bottled water.
If you want an upgrade, use an approach that may snag it for free. You can be sure of this by being on time to accept your hotel booking. Most of the time, the room you reserved won’t have been cleaned yet, so the hotel may provide you with a quick upgrade.
Don’t take any of the hotel towels or linens.
You can make it a lot better at your hotel if you tip at the appropriate time. For instance, room service usually includes the tip; however, the bill for maid service doesn’t. The tips you hand out at the hotel ensures you are respected and liked.
You can get some money saved if you book your flight and hotel at the same time. Travel websites offer big savings when you book more than one service at the same time.
Never pay the advertised price at hotels. You don’t have to pay so much! Haggling over your hotel rate is expected. Contact the hotel to see what kind of specials they are running. Fortune favors the bold. You can find great discounts on travel sites.
You can save money by not booking a hotel room rate if you book during the off season. This is when rates are at their highest. You will have a greater chance in getting a fantastic rate.
Sometimes asking the hotel clerk for a deal can get you a better rate. They can’t always lower the price, but they may be able to add a few additional perks to improve your stay. If you do not ask, you won’t know if it was an option, so do not be scared to ask.
As you have seen from this article, a lot of people need to stay in hotels. No matter what your reasoning for needing to stay in one, it’s crucial to do your homework first. Hopefully, you now see why that is true.
Watch out for extra fees when using a third-party booker. The quote you get upfront doesn’t include these fees. The only way to be sure what you are going to pay is to read the fine print.